Concise Dictionary of American Biography

With the addition of newly condensed biographies from Supplement 9 (1994) and Supplement 10 (1995), the dictionary now includes entries on all 19,173 persons treated in the parent set and its supplements. The 1063 new entries cover outstanding Americans who died prior to January 1, 1981, including Margaret Mead, Duke Ellington, Charles Lindbergh, and Jesse Owens. This edition retains the fourth's occupation index, and introduces a new birthplaces index. Edited under the sponsorship of the American Council of Learned Societies. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

This concise version of the 21-volume Dictionary of American Biography (DAB) and its ten supplements adds an additional decade's worth of entries (1,063) since its previous edition (LJ 3/15/91), now listing over 19,000 "outstanding Americans" who died prior to 1981. Scribner editors, having assumed preparation of the biographies from the American Council of Learned Societies, follow traditional DAB procedures. All entries contain birth and death years with respective places, and "minimal" to "extended" descriptions based on the person's importance are provided. The former may be as brief as three words, while the latter range up to two pages. The content, style, and spirit of the original, authoritative, full-length DAB biographies are preserved for extended descriptions, and the high standards of accuracy and balance are maintained. Major creative works by authors, artists, dramatists, and the like are included within narratives. A birthplaces index by state, or by country for naturalized Americans (also in the DAB's 1996 Comprehensive Index), has been added to this edition. The occupations index, listing such colorful categories as adventuress, racketeer, mercenary, and mystic, reflects the diversity of those represented. A good choice for reference collections lacking the full DAB.?Stanley P. Hodge, Ball State Univ. Lib., Muncie, Ind.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

All of the condensed biograpies from the previous editions are here, as well as newly condensed biographies from Supplement 9 (1994) and Supplement 10 (1995). Coverage has been extended to include all significant Americans who died before 1981. Among the new entries are Charles Lindbergh, Margaret Mead, and Jesse Owens. Also new to this edition is a Birthplaces Index. In its review of the fourth edition [RBB Mr 15 91], the Board called this title a valuable reference work: "For many users, these brief entries will be exactly what they are seeking."